How NHL Teams Really Use Analytics

Why It Matters

Advanced analytics are reshaping NHL decision‑making, giving clubs a data‑driven edge in drafting, strategy, and playoff performance.

Key Takeaways

• Teamworks delivers automated game reports with expected‑goals and on‑puck value.
• On‑puck value system ranks players by positive and negative contributions.
• Advanced XG models incorporate tracking data, deflections, and post‑shot trajectories.
• Middle‑tier NHL clubs gain most from plug‑and‑play analytics platforms.
• Tactical adjustments remain limited; analytics mainly inform preparation, not in‑game style.

Summary

The Wharton Moneyball episode dives into how NHL clubs leverage advanced analytics, featuring Tyrell Stokes of Teamworks. He outlines the suite of automated game reports, expected‑goals (XG) frameworks, and an on‑puck value system that quantifies player actions in real time. Stokes details their tracking‑enhanced XG models, which factor in shot deflections, pre‑ and post‑shot trajectories, and player‑specific probabilities. The on‑puck value (EPV) model assigns positive or negative values to key events—takeaways, passes, carries, shots—allowing quick visual ranking of contributors. He emphasizes that Teamworks provides foundational models and raw outputs, enabling teams to build custom metrics. "If you have nothing built off, we can plug‑and‑play tomorrow," he says, noting that middle‑tier clubs reap the biggest gains, while elite organizations use low‑level features for auditing and fine‑tuning. The conversation highlights that analytics improve scouting, preparation, and performance evaluation, yet in‑game tactical shifts remain constrained. As tracking data expands, clubs that integrate these insights can secure a measurable edge in player evaluation and playoff strategy.

Original Description

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Statistician and sports analytics researcher Tyrel Stokes joins Wharton Moneyball to break down how NHL teams are using advanced analytics, tracking data, and predictive models to evaluate players, understand playoff performance, and gain an edge on the ice. The conversation explores expected goals models, puck tracking, AI in sports analytics, and why hockey may be entering a new era of data driven decision making.

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Sports is a game of numbers. Wharton experts Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, Cade Massey, and Adi Wyner team up to tackle the world of sports, from current events to longstanding issues such as: What sports streaks are the most impressive? How do you rank the best players? Can athletes be compared across sports? Moneyball Highlights explains how decision-makers in the game can avoid the common mistakes and embrace the data. Episodes are recorded at the Wharton School.

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#hockey #nhl #sportsanalytics #ai #wharton

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